Category Archives: Nike (all)

Nike was founded in 1964 by Bill Bowerman – a track-and-field coach – and Phil Knight – a middle-distance runner from Portland who was enrolled in the University of Oregon – as “Blue Ribbon Sports” and initially operated as a distributor for the Japanese shoemaker “Onitsuka Tiger” (now known as “Asics”). It officially became Nike Inc. in 1971. The Nike name comes from the Greek goddess of victory. Today Nike is the biggest sports company in the world.